Gingrich Tells Gay Iowan To Vote For Obama

December 21, 2011 10:30 am ET —
Salvatore Colleluori

This hasn't been a good week for Newt Gingrich, as his poll numbers drop and he continues to alienate voters. During a stop in Iowa, Gingrich was asked by gay Iowan Scott Arnold, a longtime Oskaloosa resident and an associate professor at William Penn University, how he planned to "engage gay Americans" if elected. Gingrich reportedly told Arnold he should just support Obama. From the Des Moines Register:

"I asked him if he's elected, how does he plan to engage gay Americans. How are we to support him? And he told me to support Obama," said Scott Arnold, an associate professor of writing at William Penn University." [...]

"When you ask somebody a question and you expect them to support all Americans and have everyone's general interest," Arnold said. "It's a little bit frustrating and disheartening when you're told to support the other side. That he doesn't' need your support."

Gingrich's comments beg the question: How would he regard groups like GOProud, a conservative gay rights organization? Even though they support "limited government" and "individual liberty," would he tell them to vote for Obama? Would he refuse to represent them as president?

As ThinkProgresspoints out, Gingrich's own half-sister, Candice Gingrich-Jones, a gay marriage advocate, said she would "work really, really hard to make sure that President Obama is re-elected next year no matter who the Republican candidate is" on the Rachel Maddow Showearlier this month.

UPDATE: Here's the full video of the incident, where Gingrich explains he would engage with gay voters on every other issue except gay rights.